-TW: blood, hospitals and mention of death-
*Quin*

Me and Lauren decided to take the boys to a park today. Daniel is feeling a bit bigger so he can play with Max now even though Max refuses to accept that he wants to play.

When we get to the park its eerily empty but we both appreciate the quiet so Max and maybe slip a little bit. I had paid someone to stand a few meters away incase anyone recognized me. I don't need people bothering me for things I don't care about and I especially don't need people bothering Daniel...

Me and Lauren are sitting on a bench while the boys play. I get up to go and make sure Daniel was okay because he looks slightly uncomfortable... As soon as I get up I hear the gunshot.

"MOMMY" Max wails, I turn to see Lauren on the floor bleeding out. I have to grab Max tightly to stop him running to her. He is screaming for her but I risk his life if I let him go. I hold both the boys close as I wait for an all clear. Lauren looks up weakly and smiles at Max.

"ALL CLEAR" I let Max go and he rushes to Laurens side. Practically choking on tears. She rolls to face him, lifting a hand to his face.

"I love you, Maxxy" Lauren smiles with a single tear falling.

"Nononononono mommy please don't fall asleep. W-we will get you help. Quin call an ambulance please" Max cries as Lauren fights to stay awake... I dial for an ambulance and they say they will be here soon. I apply pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding.

"Come on Lauren, stay the fuck awake" Im trying to stop myself from crying as she just gives a weak smile. When the ambulance finally arrives she closes her eyes. I get the boys in my car and drive behind the ambulance, praying that she is okay.

When we get to the waiting room Lauren has been taken to emergency care. Max and Daniel are hugging as Max crys his little eyes out... Just as he was warming up to her this has to happen.

1 hour goes by, 2 hours, 3 hours...
Daniel has fallen asleep and I have cradled Max so he can sleep a bit but he didn't much.

"Are you Quin? Here for Lauren??" The doctor approaches me with an expression I can't read.

"Yes I am, is she okay. Can I see her" I ask tiredly.

"There isn't much we can do, she has lost too much blood and she is likely to die. She has requested to see you and she has asked that Maxwell is put under your care." I hold Max slightly tighter. I nod and pick Daniel up with my other arm. Putting both sleeping littles on the couch in her hospital room as soon as I can.

"Lauren" I say softly as I sit by her side. She doesn't open her eyes but she lifts her hand which I take in mine.

"Quin, your my best friend. Take care of Max for me. Love him like you do with Daniel, for me" She speaks softly. She knows she isn't lasting long. Max must have heard her because he has woken up and rushes to her side crying into her. She calmly strokes his hair. "Poor bunny, I love you so much and I want you to never forget about me... But I want you to eventually see Quin as your new daddy and feel happy. And-" she chokes on her tears slightly and she hugs him tightly.

"Mama, d-don weave me pease" Max sounds more infantile when he speaks. His cries making it hard for him to talk. They both cry and hug for a long time, I sit on the couch with Daniel.

Max stays close to Lauren refusing to leave her side even when I have to change his diaper. He spends all night by her side, she is able to feed him breakfast with my help. Daniel was mostly feeling bad for Max and scared Lauren would die... I can't say I'm much better. I called Ezekiel and he is coming over to meet us at the hospital so I'm not alone...

It feels so unreal, like this is just a shit dream where I'll wake up any second and Lauren will be okay. That bullet was for me and if it had hit me she wouldn't be here. Just as I was in the middle of my thought I heard the bathroom door open and Ezekiel comes in. Shutting the door behind him and hugging me tightly, I burst into tears. I had been so focused to making sure everyone else was going to be okay I hadn't thought how much I would miss her, how I'll never see her again, how different my life will be without her.

My fingers gripping at Zeek as my breathing goes from short panicked breaths to deeper long breaths. Trying to calm down but I don't really get a chance when a cry comes from the other room, the machine shows Laurens flatlining. Doctors are rushed in and are trying to get her heart back up again. Zeek tears Max away from her to let the doctors work. I take Daniel and we leave the room to wait in the waiting room.

I want her to make it. Come on Lauren, for me. For Max. Please...